Detained Egyptian journalist to be freed: President's spokesman

Cairo: Egyptian editor Islam Afifi, who is facing charges of spreading false news and was remanded in custody on Thursday, will be freed on orders from President Mohamed Morsi, his spokesman said.

"Al-Dustour chief editor Islam Afifi will be released according to the (presidential) decree," which scraps preventive detention in the case of publishing crimes, said Mr Morsi's spokesman, Yasser Ali.

This is the first time Mr Morsi, who was inaugurated as president on June 30 and stripped the military of legislative powers in August, issues a decree with the force of law, said Mr Ali, quoted on the official MENA news agency.

Earlier on Thursday, a judge at the Giza Criminal Court in greater Cairo ordered Mr Afifi held until his next hearing, which was set for September 16, pending investigations over charges that he had "insulted Morsi," MENA said.